West Seattle High School

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West Seattle High School/Resources/Counseling Center/Service Learning

Service Learning

Service Learning Requirements

All students must have 60 hours of service learning hours to graduate.

*15 hours per year for transfer students

Submit the  Service Learning Hours Form to your counselor

Service Learning Opportunities 

Volunteer Search Sites

Library and Literacy Volunteer Opportunities

Friends of The Seattle Public Library :   The Friends have many ways to get involved, including becoming a member, volunteering at our book sorting facility, donating books, and working in the FriendShop at the Central Library. The FriendShop application is for volunteering at the FriendShop gift shop at the Central Library in downtown Seattle. We love volunteers with great customer service skills. Apply today! 

Seattle Public Library:   Library volunteers help kids and teens with homework, tutor adult English learners, assist librarians. Must be 18 years old and up. 

Seattle Public Library – Teen Programs :   Our Teen Services librarians offer Service Learning and Learning Buddies tutoring opportunities for high school students to make a positive impact in their communities….Learning Buddies is an education enrichment program for K-5 students for teen tutors to read and play academic games with kids. If you are a high school student who enjoys math, reading and helping kids succeed in school, please consider joining us as a Learning Buddy. Must be at least 14 years of age.

King County Library System:   Volunteers can take pride in helping KCLS provide outstanding library services to over one million residents, plus visitors. KCLS is one of the three highest circulating library systems in the country. While working in the KCLS environment, volunteers may learn more about KCLS services, improve their ability to use KCLS resources, learn to represent KCLS to their friends and neighbors, and enjoy a closer interaction with KCLS patrons and materials. Must be at least 14 years of age.

Literacy Source:   Volunteers play a huge role in the strength of our organization, helping us to provide every student the instruction and support they need as they work toward literacy, improving language skills, citizenship, better jobs, and better lives. Age requirement varies. 

Reading Partners:   Our volunteers become so much more than just reading partners. By sharing their knowledge and experience, they become mentors, friends, and positive role models to the children they work with. Working one-on-one with a student is a fun, effective way to change a life—maybe even your own. Must be at least 14 years of age.

Food or Meal Distribution Volunteer Opportunities

Food Lifeline:   Support Food Lifeline’s efforts to provide food to our communities by helping us distribute emergency food boxes through various locations or by packing food in our warehouse. Many dates and locations are available. Must be 14 years or older. 

Teen Feed:   Are you a passionate and talented person who wants to make a difference with your time? Are you willing to be inclusive, compassionate and reliable? Our volunteers are staff. You are the life-blood here at Teen Feed. Individual(s)…are welcome for nightly meals, days of caring and customized internships….The first step to becoming a volunteer at Teen Feed is attending our Teen Feed Volunteer Orientation. Age requirement varies. 

West Seattle Food Bank:   The West Seattle Food Bank distributes food, pet food and other items to families in need residing in the West Seattle zip codes of 98106, 98116, 98126 and 98136. Families can use the food bank once a week. Age requirement varies. 

Eat Happy: A new King County-based organization that aims to decrease hunger in our community by bridging the gap between local grocery stores and restaurants and people who are experiencing food insecurity. We collaborate with local establishments, pick up their excess food free of charge, and deliver directly to shelters, food banks, and community centers.  We are rapidly expanding and looking for volunteers to help us serve as many people as possible. For further questions visit our website linked above or contact: sharmila@eathappynow.org or sunita@eathappynow.org .

Outdoor and Conservation Volunteer Opportunities

Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association – Volunteer in the Forest :   Volunteering with DNDA’s Nature Programs can be a fun, rewarding experience allowing you to get outside, improve the health of a local natural area, and give back to your community. We believe that volunteers should come ready to engage in new experiences to help build and sustain a dynamic Delridge.

Seattle Parks and Recreation:   Seattle Parks and Recreation has a wide range of teen service-learning and community service opportunities in your neighborhoods.

Student Conservation Association:   Are you a high school student who is passionate about conservation? Do you like working as part of a team to get things done? Do you just love being outdoors? Join an SCA Crew and plug yourself into SCA’s nationwide network of young conservationists – thousands of students who are as passionate as you are about preserving wildlands, protecting nature in urban areas, and keeping the planet green. SCA offers a range of programs for youth ages 15-19. Whether you want to serve in your local community or explore public lands across the country, SCA has a crew for you!

Tilth Alliance :   Volunteering is a great way to learn and build skills, meet new people, and get involved in Tilth Alliance’s mission. Tilth Alliance works in community with Washington farmers, gardeners and eaters to build a sustainable, healthy and equitable food future.

University of Washington Botanic Garden: Junior Naturalists are teens volunteering with the Arboretum Summer Camp for a two-week session. We’re looking for individuals who are enthusiastic about working with kids, playing outside, and gaining leadership skills. Students can earn up to 70 service hours, and will receive a letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the program.

Seward Park Audubon Center– We are in the process of developing a teen leadership and conservation program called “Elevation”.  Students will be able to earn service credits and will receive exposure to hands-on career opportunities in E-STEM. For more information or to volunteer visit the website linked above.

Outdoors For All– A non-profit based in Bellevue that provides outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. In the winter, they offer alpine, Nordic, and snowshoe programs for people with disabilities at The Summit at Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass. This is a great way for people to gain valuable experience while receiving volunteer hours, building community, and giving back.

Senior Center Volunteer Opportunities

Brookdale Senior Living Center:   Everyone has a different reason for why they volunteer….No matter what your reasons are for volunteering, giving your time and energy to a senior living community is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Our residents have more wisdom and stories to share than you could ever imagine. From airplane engineers and artists to war veterans, you never know who you might meet, or what you might discover, at your local Brookdale community. Call 206-438-3056 (West Seattle location) or 206-438-3060 (Admiral Heights location)

Senior Center of West Seattle:   We depend on our volunteers daily and appreciate them dearly. They are the heart and backbone of the Senior Center, and when we’re fully open, it takes over 200 volunteers to run all of our programs, events, and activities. Whether you can commit to ongoing weekly shifts or prefer something more flexible, we will have many opportunities to choose from.

Sage and Seekers: We offer intergenerational programming for students (ages 15-24) and adults 60+ that is designed to diminish social isolation, develop empathy, and combat ageism.  We do this through conversation and storytelling, creating authentic connections between the two generations. Our goal is for both generations to discover commonalities and shatter stereotypes they have of one another. Our program is 8 weeks long and meets on Zoom weekly for an hour. Check out our website or contact Rachel Shader at 310-497-7686.

Art and Music Volunteer Opportunities

ArtCorps:   Arts Corps is a nationally recognized youth arts education organization that works to address the race and income-based opportunity gap in access to arts education. Through participation in our arts integration, out-of-school arts and teen leadership programs, youth experience the transformative power of creativity and gain a deepened belief in their own capacity to learn, take risks, persist and achieve. Arts Corps relies on our volunteers for their talent, expertise, availability and commitment.

Seattle Art Museum: SAM involves hundreds of volunteers in dynamic and engaging opportunities at all three museum sites. Our volunteers provide great customer service, support administrative tasks, facilitate art experiences, and more. Prospective volunteers should be passionate about art and enjoy interacting with the public. We have Open Volunteer positions for people able to make at least a six-month commitment to a weekly or every-other-week schedule. We also occasionally offer One Day Volunteer opportunities for people who are not able to make a longer commitment.

Twelfth Night Productions (TNP): In 1995 we performed our first full length production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, and the spirit of Twelfth Night Productions was born. We have continued to perform an annual summer production and over the years have grown to include a smaller ensemble driven spring and fall production, and a traditional holiday season show. We are in need of volunteer Ushers for our upcoming shows!  Please email Jessica Anderson at Jessica@twelfthnightproductions.org to schedule your volunteer shift.

The Vera Project:   Choose your own adventure. Volunteer at Vera to choose your own creative adventure and help us build the community that you want to be a part of today! Get involved by running shows, helping out in the silkscreen and recording studios, organizing grassroots social movements, curating gallery exhibitions, launching new programs– anything you want, really.

Northwest Folklife Festival – The Northwest Folklife Festival is an iconic celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression, bringing together individuals from all walks of life to share their traditions, music, dance, and stories. This event will happen May 24th-27th 2024. As one of the largest community-powered festivals in the Pacific Northwest, it relies heavily on the dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers to ensure its success. To volunteer feel free to contact Michelle Searle at volunteers@nwfolklife.org or fill out the Northwest Folklife Festival volunteer application.

Organization-specific Volunteer Opportunities

El Centro de La Raza : Our volunteers are the lifeblood of El Centro de la Raza. Many volunteers have previously participated in our programs, but many have also learned about our organization and simply wanted to help. We have volunteer opportunities available for individuals, groups, and English or Spanish speakers who would like to become part of the community of El Centro de la Raza.

Salvation Army – White Center : When you make a gift—money, time, or energy—to The Salvation Army Seattle White Center, your gift becomes grounded in the reputation, trust and credibility of The Salvation Army—which is well known for its continuing efforts of providing relief to those in need. Must be at least 16 years old. 

Volunteer Enhancement Projects (formerly Self Help ProjectS): A Volunteer Enhancement Project is any project to improve our school buildings or grounds. Volunteer Enhancement projects may be initiated and implemented by any individual or group other than Seattle Public Schools’ Facilities, Capital or Technology departments staff.

Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation: We depend on the contributions of volunteers to achieve our mission. Serenity has no paid staff and runs only through the work of volunteers and their invaluable contributions to the welfare of our horses.

Our dedicated volunteers work 365 days a year, helping with:

  • Chores around the barn such as mucking out stalls, picking paddocks, and morning and afternoon feeds
  • Staffing events and educating the public
  • Administrative work, grant writing, advocacy, and fundraising support

the Service Board :   the Service Board (tSB) mentors teens to conquer personal and cultural challenges through outdoor adventure, environmental and social justice education, and public service. tSB would not exist without support from our community. It is important to us that as we ask our youth to commit to service and building community, that adults are modeling this commitment.

West Seattle Fauntleroy YMCA :   Are you interested in coaching? Want to help with youth programs for a volunteer opportunity your whole family can participate in? When we all join, we rise together! Scroll to the bottom of the page and then click “See Volunteer Options”.

West Seattle Helpline:   At our free clothing store, the Clothesline, customers can shop for new and like-new clothing for all ages: infants, children, teens, and adults. Main focus for volunteers would be sorting the clothes. 

West Seattle Junction:   The West Seattle Junction is a thriving community located in the heart of West Seattle. We are seeking ongoing opportunities for volunteers to spend worthwhile time making the Junction a thriving and exciting place to live. Opportunities range from festival support to Junction ambassadors, to street team, to Junction clean-up. We also have volunteer opportunities during our many community events including Harvest Festival, Spring Clean Up, Hometown Holidays, and Art Walk.

West Side Baby in White Center:   At West Side Baby, volunteers are at the heart of our organization. We know one of the greatest gifts you can give is your time. Help us fulfill our commitment to keeping local children safe, warm and dry by volunteering at one of our operations centers. Please consider other ways you can support families in our community who may need gently used clothing, baby equipment, and diapers.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health– Learn about the exciting world of healthcare while gaining work skills. We need help with: Wayfinding/Greeting, Special Projects, Patient Care Activities, and Lab Support Services. Go to website link above or contact: Keriann Cockrell- keriann.cockrell@commonspirit.org.

  • No More Under– Volunteer opportunity to teach young children and teenagers about water safety and provide swimming lessons. We are looking for a 2-7 hour monthly commitment.

West Seattle Lions Club– Volunteer to help the local West Seattle Lions club. Multiple options for hours including helping set up events, decorating for parades or parties, and more. Contact Jimmy Martin at 206-619-1029.

Seattle Marathon Association– There is a role for everyone and you can invite your friends, no experience necessary! Whether you sign up as a course marshal, water station attendant, registration or finish line support, you will earn unfailing gratitude from our runners and the SMA staff. For questions or concerns feel free to reach out to volunteer@seattlemarathon.org or visit the website linked above.

LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet)- During the school year for approximately 10 hours per month, students will meet at Pasado’s Safe Haven to care for rescued animals, assist with infrastructure projects, and participate in a humane education curriculum, all culminating in an annual scholarship competition and final group presentation to family and friends! For more information visit the website linked above.

Rhizome– Rhizome is a nonpartisan nonprofit co-founded by 90 young people across the U.S. in August 2021. Our purpose is to build collective power for young people to create the safer, happier, and healthier world they want to live in. Rhizome is a space for action and ideas, a home for emerging leaders to create the world we want to live in. We educate high school Civic Service Fellows and paid youth organizers as community leaders, imparting transferable life and career skills. We value inclusivity and peer-mentorship, as no past leadership experience is required for high school students to join the Fellowship!

Local School Volunteer Opportunities

Invest In Youth – Seattle Non-Profit that offers after school enrichment and individualized tutoring to 5 elementary schools in Seattle school district for students in grades 3-5. Starts in November and runs through the end of May for 1 hour a week.